Berries Theme

Berries Theme

February 27 is National Strawberry Day!

READ: Books:

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear By Don Wood
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes By James Dean
The Very Berry Counting Book By Jerry Pallotta
Stawberries are Red By Petr Horacek
Bumpety, Dunkety, Thumpety-Thump By K.L. Going
Jamberry By Bruce Degen
Jam and Honey By Melita Morales
The Berry Book by Gail Gibbons

One Little Blueberry by Tammi Salzano
Blueberry Mouse By Alice Low 
More Blueberries By Susan Musgraves
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Bear Sees Colors By Karma Wilson 
Blackberry Booties By Tricia Gardella
Blueberries for Sal By Robert McCloskey (pre-read this if you are reading  to a group. There are areas where you can shorten it for preschoolers)

 

Songs and Rhymes:

FLANNEL RHYME: Five Ripe Berries Sitting in a Bowl
You can also use this flannelboard with Jbrary’s Jamberry rhyme.  Check it out here!

Five ripe berries sitting in a bowl. (hold up five fingers)
The (strawberry, etc.) fell out and started to roll. (Hold up finger, and roll hands)
It bumped the table and hit my toe (clap once, and touch toes )
How many berries in the bowl? 1-2-3-4 (Count berries)
Repeat rhyme until there are no more berries left in the bowl!
Credit: Adapted from Five Big Lemons! at Recipes for Reading & Sunflower Storytime

Berry Template Credit Sunflower Storytime

Flannelboard: “Five Strawberries”
Five red strawberries, sweet to the core.
Bear came and ate one and then there were four.
Four red strawberries, growing near a tree.
Bear came and ate one and then there were three.
Three red strawberries, for you and you and you.
Bear came and ate one and then there were two.
Two red strawberries, sitting in the sun.
Bear came and ate one and then there was one.
One red strawberry, left all alone.
Bear came and ate it and then there were none.
Credit: Abby the Librarian & Storytime Katie

Action Song: Pop Goes the Berry (Tune: Pop Goes the Weasel)
All around the strawberry fields,
We picked some juicy berries
We brought them home and washed them off,
Pop! Go the berries! (have kids jump up on “pop”)
Credit: Jbrary and sStorytime Katie

Fingerplay: At the Cottage Door
One, two, three four,
(Insert child’s name) at the cottage door.
Five, six, seven, eight,
Counting cherries on her plate.
Credit: Storytime Katie 


 Two little brown bears eating juicy strawberries,
One name Michael and one name Mary.
Run away Michael, run away Mary.
Come back Michael, come back Mary.
You can also do the “usual” verse with these guys:
Two little brown bears sitting on a hill,
One named Jack and one named Jill.
Run away Jack, run away Jill.
Come back Jack, come back Jill.
Credit Sunflower Storytime

Fingerplay: Pick Berries High (tune of Peas Porridge Hot)

Pick berries high (reach up high)

Pick berries low (reach down low)

Pick berries on the bush, nine in a row (clap 9x)

Some like them red (raise one hand to side palm up)

Some like them blue (raise other hand palm up)

Here’s one for me- yum! (pretend to eat berry)

And here’s one for you (hold out hand)

___

Credit: adapted from Artsy Toddler Storytimes and storytimeinthestacks.wordpress.com

Picked a Berry (Tune: Clementine)

Picked a blueberry, picked a blueberry (picking motion)
That was growing in the sun (circle arms above head)
Then I washed it and I ate it (pretend to eat)
And I picked another one

(repeat with other berries such as strawberries, blackberries, etc)

Source: Jbrary & Adventures of a Bookworm.com

CD's Music:

Fruit Salad Song  By the Wiggles

 Fruit Salad Salsa Song By Laurie Berkner

 CRAFT/ PLAY:

Strawberry Counting Cards 

Little Mouse, Red Ripe Strawberry and Big Hungry Bear Book Art Activity  

Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry coloring sheet 

Doily Strawberry craft 

Blueberry Pie Craft with fingerprint

Sampling Berries Activity- Pick up from the farmers market or grocery many different types of berries - Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries. then explore and taste them. Ask Questions like do they have seeds? Are they sweet or tart? bumpy or smooth? Sort by size or color

 Paint berry shapes Art or use coloring page templates for the berries and mix some unsweetened  kool-aid into the paint- strawberry, raspberry, blueberry and let your paintings dry and they will smell like the berries. 

PB & Jelly Theme Activities

Blueberries for Sal Book Activities Printables 

Fruit and Berries Flash Cards